Chandigarh: Amid concerns over a possible flood threat ahead of the monsoon, former Haryana deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala on Wednesday questioned the state government's preparedness, warning that the rapidly rising water level in the Bhakra Dam could pose a serious challenge in the coming weeks.
Citing data from the Bhakra Beas Management Board, Chautala said the dam's water level had reached 1,578 feet, much higher than the average 1,543 feet usually recorded during this period. He claimed the reservoir was holding water nearly 35 feet above normal and around 20 feet more than levels seen during previous flood years.
Dushyant said intense summer heat and accelerated melting of glaciers had led to a massive inflow into the Gobind Sagar reservoir, which has a catchment area of nearly 57,000 square kilometers. He said nearly three lakh crore litres of additional water had accumulated even before the onset of the monsoon rains.
Warning that the situation could worsen once the monsoon gains momentum, the JJP leader alleged that the Haryana government had failed to evolve a strategy for managing surplus water despite the devastation caused by floods in recent years.
He said hundreds of villages and standing crops could again face inundation if timely measures are not taken. Chautala urged the Haryana government and the Union water resources ministry to hold an emergency meeting with Punjab and BBMB authorities and ensure controlled release of excess water while creating systems to channel surplus water towards irrigation needs and groundwater recharge.
This version places the Bhakra Dam level and the potential flood risk at the centre of the story while keeping the political remarks secondary.
